looking for McDonnells of Western Australia
McMac
On a hunch, I looked for a missing brother of my great-great-grandfather in Australia. I found a record of a William McDonnell who was the right age, transported aboard the Norwood in March of 1862. After his sentence, eh moved to Augusta, where my search has ended.
by McMac
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Contact | Subscribe | Block this user on 2012-09-03 10:16:56
McMac has been a Family Tree Circles member since Sep 2012.
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janilye on 2012-09-04 04:30:16He and another soldier 'McCaffrey' struck a senior officer when stationed at Corfu in 1860 and McDonnell received a sentence of 15 years. McCaffrey got life.
McDonnell was 22 at his trial in 1860
Do you mean you lost sight of McDonnell after he moved to Augusta or you're not sure he is the right McDonnell?
There is only one William McDonnell registered as having married and died in WA within the time frame, and that's William Patrick McDonnell who died at 48 a catholic and a blacksmith, so I'm showing you this so you can rule him out and not trip over him in your search.
WA.BD&M
MARRIAGE:
MCDONNELL WILLIAM PATRICK Male
JAGO CHARLOTTE AMELIA Female
BUSSELTON
REG.No.1903
YEAR:1905
DEATHS:
MCDONNELL WILLIAM P Male
PERTH
REG.No.1092
YEAR: 1923
Here is the above's death notice.
The West Australian Wednesday 19 September 1923
McDONNELL. ? On September 18, 1923, at his residence, Arundel street, Bayswater, William Patrick, beloved husband of Charlotte Amelia McDonnell, fond father of Amelia, Lily, Henry and Dorothy: aged 48
Your William could have either changed his name or left the state or both.
Do you know what he was doing in Augusta? A lot of the convicts were given tickets of leave and sent to Augusta to help the settlers cut timber.
Then of course there were the whalers.
Did you have a look for a conditional or absolute Pardon?
McMac on 2012-09-04 08:53:34This is fantastic!! I am very new to this kind of search, so I am grateful for your help.
My uncle has traced our family back to County Kildare, and William's parents ( William and Anne) are as far as he has been able to go. Apparently the parish records were moved to Dublin for safekeeping, but the courthouse burned and there went all the records. All the information we have on this William is a birth year. I had been told one of the brothers had disappeared without a trace (although my uncle says I have the wrong brother. But we know nothing about William, so I still say he's missing).
I think the only way to know if this is 'my' William is to find out where he was born or his parent's names. Do you know if there is a way to do that in Australia? The story I had is that the family farm had been sold, and one or more brothers remained to work the farm, and one disappeared. All I know is, we have information on marriages and children of all the brothers but William.
Where would you suggest I go from here? And thanks so much!
janilye on 2012-09-04 16:23:06What makes you think your William was transported to Western Australia? On just a name and (about the right age); that's a giant leap.
There were a few William McDonnell's transported the above William was in the British Army stationed on Corfu during the British occupation. He was Court Martialed in 1860. You would need to find out what units were stationed in Corfu and go through their records.
Australian Convict Transportation Registers ? Other Fleets & Ships, 1791-1868
about William Mcdonnell
Name: William Mcdonnell
Vessel: Norwood
Convicted Date: 17 Oct 1860
Voyage Date: 13 Mar 1862
Colony: Western Australia
Place of Conviction: Corfu, Greece
Australian Convict Index, 1788-1868
about William McDONNELL
Name: William McDONNELL
Age: 1840
Year: 1860
Trial Place: Corfu
State: WA
Status: U
Ship: Norwood
Comments: To Augusta 8.10.1878
Occupation: Smith soldier
Convict Records of WA